Chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (CMML)

Chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (CMML) is an uncommon form of blood cancer. CMML causes a build-up of monoctyes - a type of white blood cell – to happen in the bone marrow and blood.

Between 15 and 30% of people with CMML will develop another type of leukaemia called acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). This can happen after a few months or after several years.

Treatment varies according to symptoms, and many people who have no or few symptoms just have regular check-ups. If treatment is needed, people are usually given low dose chemotherapy, or more intensive treatment, such as a stem cell transplant.

It's not clear exactly what causes CMML, but we do know it mostly affects older people and people who've already had some types of cancer treatment. This means that most people with CMML are unsuitable for stem cell transplants, and there are currently limited treatment options beyond this.

Finding kinder treatments for people living with CMML

We know we need kinder treatments for people with CMML, so we are supporting a trial that is looking at a drug called tefinostat, which could offer a less harsh treatment option. Because tefinostat selectively targets enzymes found in monocytes, it should have less side-effects than current treatments.